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Summer In The City

I love cities that feel ALIVE! This one sure did today.

At 3PM, Whitney in Chicago, one of my favorite bloggers for her beau-ti-ful photography, met me for a walk around the city. She was an excellent tour guide! The highlight was Millennium Park to see tons of great art!

Unfortunately it started to rain pretty hard, so we walked back to the hotel. I was starving with the time change, so i had a handful of trusty nuts from my snack bag to tide me until dinner. I did NOT want to spoil my appetite!

I got to relax in my bed for a bit before getting dressed up for dinner and meeting the group in the lobby. This bed is the most comfortable hotel bed I’ve ever been in!! I think there’s a foam mattress under the covers, which is what we have at home and absolutely love. I got under the covers because I was freezing even in a sweater!

At 6:15 I met the Edelman crew and Linda, the other Balanced Living blogger, in the lobby for dinner, and then we cabbed over to Graham Elliot’s restaurant!!!!!!! <—- Check out the totally unique menu + style! The food was phenomenal and totally about the flava. Graham Elliot uses such interesting flavor combinations, and this dinner went perfectly with my Gather post this week on using dining out as an opportunity to try all kinds of new tastes.

[Sorry for all the yellow photos – it was the lighting!]

We split a bottle of Calera Pinot, which was rustic and delish. I had 3 half glasses throughout the evening. LOVE drinking red wine in fancy restaurants!

We ordered a few appetizers to share across the table. I can’t even begin to remember all the different flavors in these dishes –

Once we were back at the hotel I checked out the People’s Party going on. I think it’s sort of an unofficial BlogHer thing? One thing about BlogHer – it’s soooo confusing!!! There are so many parties and events and exhibits and vendors and speakers and you are totally overwhelmed and don’t know where to go at what time. There are unlimited choices!! And it’s kinda intimidating that it seems that a lot of the other bloggers know each other already. Kind of like the first day at a new high school! I didn’t know if I was supposed to “be” at this part, but I think the point of the people’s party is that everyone is invited!?

It was packed, but I got there a little late and have an early morning tomorrow with the 5K and all, so I called it a night.

Back in my room I found a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a tote from iVillage!! How lovely!

My stomach is feeling a bit funny today. It started on the plane and then got better and now it feels super full and fluttery and in knots again. I think I am just nervous and excited to be here. Hopefully I’ll feel better for tomorrow’s run.

The bed is seriously SO comfortable I can’t wait to close my eyes!

G’night!

***

[So I just woke up and checked my email to find ZERO comments on this post. Uh-oh. Turns out it never went up! And you know what’s weird is that I almost always verify my posts go up and last night as I was closing my computer I realized I hadn’t done that but said “Eh, it’s up” Wrong!! Sorry for the delay everyone!]

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Comments

Isn’t Chicago great?! I think it’s such a perfect sized city because there’s so much to do but I don’t feel overwhelmed.
That restaurant looks incredible. I love how inventive the chef is with his dishes!
Enjoy all your activities today! 🙂

I am going to visit Chicago for the first time in October. I’ve been there before (just passing through the airport). I’m glad you went to a great place for dinner…but today…how about some deep dish pizza photos!!! At least one slice! 🙂

Oo and since you like Farmer’s Markets, check out the Lincoln Park Farmers market on Armitage Ave. & Orchard St. tomorrow if you have a chance. I worked their for years. There is also the Green City Market on the south end of Lincoln Park between Clark and Stockton. It runs 7am-1pm on tomorrow too.

I’m from chicago and thats awesome that you went to graham elliot. I was just there on July 2nd for a birthday and its so interesting to see that some parts of the menu have already changed! Instead of chowder I had a delicious sweet pea bisque and it looks like the lamb dish on the menu was different as well. I’m glad you enjoyed it, I really want to return in the fall when they completely change up the menu.